Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest helps the Food Bank of Waterloo Region spread the Spirit of Thanksgiving with the Onkel Hans Food

(Waterloo Region, ON – October 8, 2018) – Today the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest came together to help those in need while enjoying the tradition of the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Alfred Lowrick, Executive Director of K-W Oktoberfest Inc., says, “It’s a great pleasure to announce that we have collected 10,083 lbs of non-perishable food items along the parade route this year. We also collected $8,117 in cash, on the route, which will be used to purchase additional food. We are so proud of Kitchener-Waterloo for opening up both their hearts and their wallets for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.”

“Every year I am impressed with how our community comes together to help those in need,” said Wendi Campbell, CEO, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “The Onkel Hans Food Drive – particularly the collection of donations along the parade route – helps fill our shelves with many of the most needed items necessary to support the 32,000 people in our community in need of food. We are incredibly grateful to our corporate partners and community members who so generously help their neighbours in need.”

If you were unable to attend the parade with your donation this year, you can still make a donation online at https://kwoktoberfestparade.oktoberfest.ca/onkel-hans-food-drive/

Since its inception, the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Onkel Hans Food Drive has helped provide food for more than 1 million meals provided by emergency shelters, food hampers and community meal programs in Waterloo Region.

Each year local citizens and visitors share with those less fortunate by donating food and cash as part of the Thanksgiving tradition in Kitchener-Waterloo. As over 150,000 people lined the streets to watch the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, one of the highlights of Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival, volunteers from corporate sponsors Sobeys, Waterloo Nissan, Kitchener Nissan, Piller’s Fine Foods, Communitech, CHYM 96.7/ Country 106.7 FM /570 News; Virgin 105.3/KFUN 99.5 and CTV shared their time to collect the donations along the parade route.

About Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival. The not-for-profit organization was founded in 1969 by a group of volunteers committed to contributing to the social and economic vitality of Kitchener and Waterloo, Canada. Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest annually provides $22.2 million of economic benefit to the community, while not-for-profit organizations associated with the festival raise an additional $1.5 million each year for their cause. Hosted in the twin cities because of the strong German heritage, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest celebrates German food, music, fashion, and more! The nine-day festival runs every October and is operated by eight year-round full-time staff, over 450 volunteers, and 1,300 community and service club volunteers. Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is one of the top three most recognized event brands in Canada. For more information visit www.oktoberfest.ca.

2019-09-30 17:00:00Restaurants throughout Waterloo Region offer a prix fixe menu with a beer pairing for their patrons to share the Bavarian Spirit of Gemuetlichkeit and celebrate Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest!